Automatic sign-changing letter.



PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906. E. c. THOMAS & 0. P. JENKINS. AUTOMATIC SIGN CHANGING LETTER.

APPLIUATION FILED OUT. 19, 1905.

a @JW/ M? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD CLIFTON THOMAS AND CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS; OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed October 19, 1905. Serial No. 283,424.

To all whom it incty concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD CLIFTON THOMAS and CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Sign-Changing Letters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide suitable means whereby a group of illuminated openings may be made to show different letters by different groupings of the openmgs.

This invention relates, therefore, to that class of advertising-signs known as changeable-letter signs.

Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a back view; Fig. 3, a sectional side view; Figs. 4 and 5, details of parts of the invention.

In all the figures like symbols refer to like elements, in which- A is a box having openings B therein, covered on the front withlenses C and opened and closed behind by the shutters D, attached to vertically-moving wires or small rods E, maintained in place by screw-eyes F, but free to move therein.

G is a drum having longitudinal slots H therein, in which fit strips of wood or the like K, herein termed keys, having notches M therein to leave portions N of its width standmg.

The interior of the box is illuminated by the lamp P. To aid in directing the laterallyradiating rays forward, mirrors Q are provided. If, now, intermittent motion be given the drum G by any suitable means, so that periods of rest occur only when one of the shutter-changing keys K is vertical, as shown in Fig. 3, then all the shutters fastened to wires resting on the raised portions of the strip K will uncover openings in the front of the box, and these when properly grouped and illuminated by the lamp P marked with the letter it produces when put into the roll G the most inexperienced can readily make the changes desired. When a number of these sign-letters are grouped in one or more horizontal lines, any word or sentence can be readily produced. By actuatingthe drum G intermittently by suitable means these changes occur in anypredetermined time or sequence.

What we claim, therefore, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1S

1. In a changing-sign letter of the character described, the combination of a plate having openings therein relatively so located that unitary designs may be formed thereby, shutters, one for each opening, and means for moving said shutters inright lines to cover and uncover the openings.

2. In a changing-sign letter of the character described, the combination of aplate having openings therein relatively so located that unitary designs may be formed thereby, shutters, one for each opening, and means [or moving said shutters in right lines to cover and uncover the openings, and a plurality of keys having projections arranged in a predetermined manner for successively moving said shutters to cover and uncover the openings to produce predetermined designs.

EDWARD CLIFTON THOMAS.

CHAS. FRANCIS JENKINS. Witnesses:

S. BRASHEARS, Jr.

E. M. BALDWIN. 

